Hybrid stacking system for containers

ABSTRACT

Universal wraps are used in the construction of a container centerbody. The wraps may take the form of a top and bottom wrap with complementary stacking patterns, in which the wraps create the centerbody. The wraps permit stacking of different-style containers regardless of which container is positioned as the bottom container. The universal wraps may include curved edge portions to seamlessly and aesthetically blend in with a side panel of the container. The stacking patterns of the wraps may take different forms with various shaped protuberances and recessed portions. Further, one or more of the wraps may have isolation features attached to or integrally formed with an interior surface of the wrap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hybrid stacking system for containers havingdifferent stacking patterns, and more specifically relates to a hybridstacking system having wraps on the containers for engaging differentstacking patterns from different generations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of containers, which may take the form of transitcontainers, rack-mount containers, tote containers or another type ofcontainer, are often utilized to receive and support delicate cargo,such as, but not limited to electronic, computer, optical and othertypes of equipment. These containers are often used in military andcommercial environments and may be handled by persons, loadingequipment, or both during transit and at other times. At least some ofthese containers have been designed to be stackable, and thus theyinclude stacking elements or features arranged in a desired pattern.However, many of these containers may be of different types, sizes,models and versions, and thus have different stacking patterns thateither do not permit the containers to be stacked together or thatreduce the effectiveness, stability and/or efficiency of the containerswhen they are stacked together. By way of example, one company thatmanufactures containers having different stacking patterns is ECSComposites, Inc. out of Grants Pass, Oreg.

A variety of containers with stackability patterns include, but are notnecessarily limited to, the following containers described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,457,599 to Apps et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,758 to Hsu; U.S. Pat.No. 6,186,345 to Robertson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,467 to Packrall et al.;U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,230 to Koefelda; U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,494 toBlomfield; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,360 to Juhanson.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Containers, such as transit containers, rack-mount containers, totecontainers or other types of containers often include stacking patternslocated on some portion of the container, for example the top and bottomsurface or on the lid surfaces. Regardless, this stackability makes thecontainers more space efficient and easier to maneuver, especially in afield environment. As the containers evolve over time, sometimes it iseither desired or necessary to modify the stacking pattern. However,users of the containers may still desire to stack containers having anolder-style stacking pattern with containers having a newer-stylestacking pattern, or vice-versa. Alternatively, the users may desire tostack containers that were simply designed with two different types ofstacking patterns. Thus, in one embodiment, covers or wraps employinghybrid or complementary stacking patterns may be mounted, integrallyformed with or otherwise attached to containers to permit the stackingof containers having different stacking patterns. By way of example,universal wraps (i.e., upper and lower wraps) are used to construct acenterbody to permit the container to be stacked with another, differenttype of container.

In one example of the invention, a wrap system for a container includesa first wrap having first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessedregions extending from a first wrap surface of a first wrap body, thefirst wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions arranged in adesired stacking pattern; and a second wrap having second wrapprotuberances and second wrap recessed regions extending from a secondwrap surface of a second wrap body, the second wrap protuberances andsecond wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with thedesired stacking pattern.

In another example of the invention, a container includes a containercenterbody; a top wrap coupled to the container side walls creating theaforementioned centerbody, the top wrap having top wrap protuberancesand top wrap recessed regions extending from a top wrap surface of a topwrap body, the top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regionsarranged in a desired stacking pattern; and a bottom wrap having bottomwrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed regions extending from abottom wrap surface of a bottom wrap body, the bottom wrap protuberancesand bottom wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate withthe desired stacking pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container having universal wrapswith complementary stacking patterns according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a top universal wrap having a firststacking pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the top universal wrap of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a bottom universal wrap having asecond stacking pattern according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of the bottom universal wrap of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows close-up view of a portion of the second stacking patternof the bottom universal wrap of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 shows a top plan (interior) view of the bottom universal wrap ofFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In an example of the present invention, universal wraps (i.e., upper andlower wraps) are used to create a container centerbody that permits thecontainer to be stacked with another, different type of container. Byway of example, the universal wraps include separate, but cooperatingstacking patterns that allow a first generation container to be stackedwith a second or different generation container. Further, the universalwraps may advantageously eliminate the need for customers to replace thefirst generation containers with all second or different generationcontainers. For purposes of the description herein, the terms “firstgeneration,” “second generation” and “different generation” are broadlyused to describe modified containers indicating non-compatible stackingpatterns regardless of whether the containers were produced at differenttimes.

FIG. 1 shows a container centerbody 100 having a side panel 102 coupledto a top universal wrap 104 and a bottom universal wrap 106. The sidepanel 102 may include handles 103 and latch mechanisms 105. In addition,the side panel 102 may be molded as a unitary component and manufacturedfrom durable materials to include, but not limited to, various plastics,metals, fiber-reinforced composites or some combination of the above. Inone embodiment, the wraps 104, 106 are bonded to the side panel 102.However, it is appreciated the wraps 104, 106 may be attached to theside panel 102 by other means, such as, but not limited to, aninterference fit, a snap fit in which the wraps and side panels includecooperating snap portions, or fastening, for example with the wrapriveted to the centerbody.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the top universal wrap 104 having a first stackingpattern 108 that may take the form of a plurality of spaced apartprotuberances 110 extending from a surface 112. More specifically, theprotuberances 110 may take the form of protrusions, projections,elements, features, bosses, ribs, etc. In addition, the protuberances110 may take a variety of shapes, such as, but not limited to,quadrilaterals, polygons, circles, ellipses, etc. In one embodiment, theprotuberances 110 are integrally molded with the surface 112 and sideportions 114. Optionally, a portion 116 of the surface 112 may bereserved or made available for a label or other markings that may helpidentify the container 100 and/or the contents therein.

The stacking pattern 108 may be formed symmetrically with respect toaxes 118, 120 (FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment, the protuberances110 are arranged in rows or columns 122, 124, 126 such that they nestwithin complementary portions of the bottom wrap 106, as described ingreater detail below. Alternatively, the protuberances 110 may bearranged to nest within complementary portions of a bottom side stackingpattern of another container of the same or different generations.

FIGS. 4-6 show the bottom universal wrap 106 having a second stackingpattern 128 that may take the form of a plurality of spaced apartprotuberances 130 extending from a surface 132. More specifically, theprotuberances 130 may take the form of protrusions, projections,elements, features, bosses, ribs, etc. In addition, the protuberances130 may take a variety of shapes, such as, but not limited to,quadrilaterals, polygons, circles, ellipses, plus-shapes, T-shapes, etc.In one embodiment, the protuberances 130 are integrally molded with thesurface 132 and side portions 134. Optionally, a portion 136 of thesurface 132 may be recessed or otherwise offset to nestingly engage withand/or provide clearance for previous generation protubrance patterns.As best shown in FIG. 6, the recessed portions 136 include the selectedregions 111, which are illustrated as footprints in dashed line format,where the footprints represent the outline of engaging protuberances. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the selected regions 111 receive theprotuberances from row 122 of the top wrap 104 (FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 5, the protuberances 130 of the stacking pattern 128may be formed symmetrically with respect to axes 138, 140. In addition,the recessed portions 136 may also be formed symmetrically with respectto the same axes 138, 140.

FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of an interior surface 142 of the bottomwrap 106. As a means to streamline the manufacturing process, the bottomwrap 106 includes isolation features that correspond to an isolator footprint 144 extending from the interior surface 142. The isolationfeatures 144 may be molded with the bottom wrap 106.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, as noted above, many changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely byreference to the claims that follow.

1. A wrap system for a container comprising: a first wrap having first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions extending from a first wrap surface of a first wrap body, the first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and a second wrap having second wrap protuberances and second wrap recessed regions extending from a second wrap surface of a second wrap body, the second wrap protuberances and second wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking pattern.
 2. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap protuberances include quadrilateral-shaped members.
 3. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the first wrap surface.
 4. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap recessed regions are located between respective first wrap protuberances.
 5. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap includes curved side members coupled to the first wrap body.
 6. The wrap system of claim 5, wherein the first wrap body and the curved side members are permanently attachable to the side panels to create a centerbody of the container.
 7. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap protuberances include members selected from the group consisting of quadrilateral-shaped members, plus-shaped members, and T-shaped members.
 8. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the second wrap surface.
 9. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap recessed regions are located between respective second wrap protuberances.
 10. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap includes curved side members coupled to the second wrap body.
 11. The wrap system of claim 10, wherein the second wrap body and the curved side members are permanently attachable to side panels create a centerbody of the container.
 12. A container comprising: a container side panel; a top wrap coupled to the container side panel, the top wrap having top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regions extending from a top wrap surface of a top wrap body, the top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and a bottom wrap having bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed regions extending from a bottom wrap surface of a bottom wrap body, the bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking pattern.
 13. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap protuberances include quadrilateral-shaped members.
 14. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the top wrap surface.
 15. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap recessed regions are located between respective top wrap protuberances.
 16. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap includes curved side members coupled to the top wrap body.
 17. The container of claim 16, wherein the top wrap body and the curved side members are permanently attached to the side panel.
 18. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap protuberances include members selected from the group consisting of quadrilateral-shaped members, plus-shaped members, and T-shaped members.
 19. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the bottom wrap surface.
 20. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap recessed regions are located between respective bottom wrap protuberances.
 21. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap includes curved side members coupled to the bottom wrap body.
 22. The container of claim 21, wherein the bottom wrap body and the curved side members are permanently attached to the side panel. 